EdX

Hinduism Through Its Scriptures (edX)

Hinduism Through Its Scriptures (edX)

Learn about the rich diversity of Hindu sacred texts – hymns, narratives, philosophical thought – and their interpretations. Ever wondered about the sacred scriptures that have sustained for millennia one of the oldest and most diverse religions of the world - Hinduism? Want to discover the lessons this history may offer mankind in the 21st century?

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This religion course introduces the rich and diverse textual sources from which millions of Hindus have drawn religious inspiration for millennia. The Bhagavad Gita has offered philosophical insights to a number of modern thinkers. This course will introduce important passages from important Hindu sacred texts, their interpretations by moderns and will give you an opportunity to engage with them.

This course is part of the World Religions Through Their Scriptures XSeries Program.

What you'll learn:

  • Religious and philosophical insights conveyed in Hindu texts
  • How scriptures are interpreted to diverse ends in different historical contexts
  • Sensitive appreciation of world religions
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Islam Through Its Scriptures (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Islam Through Its Scriptures (edX)

Learn about the Quran, the central sacred text of Islam, through an exploration of the rich diversity of roles and interpretations in Muslim societies. How can you improve your understanding of Islam and its most important holy text, the Quran? How can you make sense of a tradition and a text that have been interpreted in different ways across vast geographical spaces for nearly a millennium and a half?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Intellectual Humility: Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Intellectual Humility: Science (Coursera)

It’s clear that the world needs more intellectual humility. But how do we develop this virtue? And why do so many people still end up so arrogant? Do our own biases hold us back from becoming as intellectually humble as we could be—and are there some biases that actually make us more likely to be humble? Which cognitive dispositions and personality traits give people an edge at being more intellectually humble - and are they stable from birth, learned habits, or something in between? And what can contemporary research on the emotions tell us about encouraging intellectual humility in ourselves and others?

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Religious Symbols of the World (edX) EdX
Seoul National University,SNUx

Religious Symbols of the World (edX)

This course is the third and final course in the series following “Understanding Religious Symbolism” and “Myths, Rituals, and Cosmos.” Through the theories and patterns that you learned in these three courses, I hope that you will be able to interpret the various religious phenomena in different cultures, and through this gain a better understanding of culture and human beings.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Indigenous Religions & Ecology (Coursera) Coursera
Yale University

Indigenous Religions & Ecology (Coursera)

At first glance the fields of religion and ecology may seem and unlikely pairing, but a deeper consideration reveals the two have a great deal to contribute to one another and are indeed inextricably linked. Religions recognize the unity and interdependence of humans with nature. Ecological sciences affirm this deep interconnection with the natural world. This partnership can inspire work for the wellbeing of the Earth community

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Politics of Skepticism (Coursera) Coursera
Erasmus University Rotterdam

The Politics of Skepticism (Coursera)

This is a course about the history of Skepticism from the ancient Greeks to today, with special attention to the political ramifications of questioning man's ability to know the world and himself with any certainty. We will discuss the debates raging between Plato and the Sophists, the rise of Christianity in the Roman world, and the so-called 'Skeptical Crisis' of the Renaissance as well as Pierre Bayle's Skepticism and David Hume's.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Pensamiento del Papa Francisco (edX) EdX
The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana,JaverianaX

Pensamiento del Papa Francisco (edX)

Ante el auge a nivel mundial que está presentando el pensamiento del Papa Francisco, urge un estudio teológico sobre su pensamiento social. Analizar el contexto próximo del Papa Francisco y proponer alternativas de acción. Este curso teórico práctico, pretende hacer una aproximación reflexiva y crítica al pensamiento social del Papa Francisco desde la teología, teniendo como marco doctrinal de referencia, la doctrina social de la Iglesia, la realidad latinoamericana y mundial.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks